Team Malaysia

Wednesday, May 07, 2014

No gag order, say BAM

KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton Association of Malaysia
(BAM) deny there is a gag order yet shuttlers preparing for the Thomas
and Uber Cup Finals in New Delhi from May 18-25 are now off-limits to
the media.

The shuttlers are currently undergoing centralised training at Juara
Stadium in Bukit Kiara, and any request for an interview with a player
or coach now has to go through Rashid Sidek, who is the Thomas-Uber Cup
project leader.

The courts are also off-limits to the media during the morning and
afternoon training sessions unlike previous preparations for major
assignments.

It is understood that the order comes from BAM president Tengku Tan
Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff who doesn’t want the players to be disturbed
during training.

BAM general manager Kenny Goh denied there is a gag order in place.

”There is no gag order ... but interviews have to go through the proper channels. In this case, it is Rashid.

”It’s the last phase of centralised training and we want the players to focus on what they are doing and not be distracted.”